JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  June  5,  1902. 
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recurring  season .  seeing  its  quota  -  of  new  soi'tS7~'in  the 
great  majority  of  cases  to  pass  away  as  below  the  standard 
or  older  sorts.  In  Lettuces,  too,  I  wonder  how  many  kinds 
I  have  tried,  and  every  one  of  them  has  gone  and  left  the 
kinds  I  started  vuth  quite  as  good  as  any  that  have  been 
ex]  e  imented  with.  While  that  is  the  case,  there  has  been, 
at  least  in  my  experience,  a  wonderful  advance  in  some 
vegetables. 
Take  the  Pea,  a  very  old  vegetable,  that  for  centuries 
has  been  produced  in  early  midseason  and  late  sorts.  The 
Elizabethan  gardener  had  his  Hasties,  and  his  Konncivals, 
and  Rathripes,  and  later  there  were  those  and  Hotspurs,  or 
“  Hots,’’  as  the  market  grower  of  that  day  irreverently 
ontricted  the  historical  name;  Charlton’s  Marrowfats,  and 
Dwarf  Marrowfats,  and  by  degrees,  and  in  the  course  of 
years,  the  list  of  varieties  increased,  till,  during  the  great 
renaissance  in  vegetable  culture,  we  have  literally  dozens 
of  greatly  improved  sorts.  It  has  been  my  experience  to  try 
new  sorts  from  a  number  of  sources,  and  the  general  result 
is  that  all  have  improved  stocks.  Plants  are  now  charac¬ 
terised  by  better  health,  or  shall  I  say  possess  greater 
vigour?  The  peas  are  individually  larger,  and  we  are  able 
to  secure  crops  slightly  more  early,  and  first-rate  peas  later 
than  formerly.  There  is  no  more  common  experience  in 
visiting  gardens  than  to  have  one’s  attention  drawn  to  some 
variety  which  the  gardener  believes  is  out-and-out  the  finest 
of  Peas.  But,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  just  one  among  many. 
Some  Peas  highly  praised  by  others  do  not  attain  the  same 
glorified  position  with  me. 
At  the  same  time,  I  do  not  doubt  their  high  qualities, 
for,  as  with  some  other  vegetables.  Peas  vary  to  some  ex¬ 
tent  according  to  soil.  I  now  grow  no  old  Peas,  the  last  that 
had  to  give  way  was  the  grand  Ne-plus-ultra,  and  that  I  con¬ 
tinued  to  cultivate  for  several  years  against  my  better  judg¬ 
ment.  I  have  replaced  it  with  Autocrat,  of  which  I  sow  more 
than  all  other  sorts  put  together.  Michaelmas,  in  a  warmer 
climate,  may  perhaps  have  the  advantage,  but  here  the  pods 
do  not  fill  so  well  as  those  of  Autocrat. 
•  remarkable  with  Peas  for  all  round  improvement 
IS  Celery.  There  is  absolutely  no  difficulty  now  in  obtaining 
from  one  sowing  the  finest  quality  Celery  from  September 
to  April.  For  a  long  time  I  cultivated  Sandringham  Dwarf 
for  using  in  autumn  and  the  early  part  of  winter,  then  that 
was  superseded  by  Veitch’s  Superb  White.  Meanwhile,  the 
late  crops,  bit  by  bit,  came  to  consist  entirely  of  Carter’s 
Standard  Bearer,  but  an  experience  last  summer,  with  the 
knowledge  that  the  first-named  keeps  excellently,  will  lead 
^  the  whole  crop  being  practically  entirely  of  that  sort. 
The  summer  was  characterised  by  a  long  and  severe  drought, 
with  little  water  to  spare,  so  that  the  Celery  leaves  were  for 
a  while  lying  flat  in  the  trenches.  The  result  was  that  a 
small  percentage  of  Standard  Bearer  “  bolted,”  but  out  of 
1,200  plants  of  Superb  White,  not  one.  Both  are  grand 
sorts,  but  I  think,  on  the  whole,  the  latter  is  on  every 
account  to  be  preferred. 
In  Leeks  there  is,  too,  a  very  general  improvement.  The 
southern  palate,  it  would  seem,  is  becoming  more  accustomed 
to  the  flavour,  and  the  gardener,  on  his  part,  is  helping  by 
providing  a  nicely  blanched  plant,  instead  of  a  bunch  of 
green  blades  as  formerly.  The  process  will  be  completed 
when  It  IS  recognised  that  the  Leek,  like  the  Onion,  must 
have  as  long  a  period  of  growth  as  possible  to  attain  its 
greatest  perfection.  There  is  no  fear  of  its  running  pre¬ 
maturely  to  seed  if  properly  treated. 
The  greatest  advance  in  the  Leek  was  undoubtedly  “  The 
Lyon.”  Now  we  have  an  “  Improved  Lyon,”  Champion  and 
International,  each  first-class  sorts.  Of  Onions  it  is  unneces¬ 
sary  to  say  anything,  as  the  sorts  are  so  well  knovm  to 
everybody.  In  Broccoli,  in  the  late  section,  there  are  a  few 
novelties.  Sutton’s  Late  Queen  is  a  fine  sort,  and 
Methven  s  June  has  secured  a  firm  standing  in  the  North  as 
an  indispensable  sort.  It,  however,  requires  a  long  season 
u  >  quite  fourteen  months  from  time  of  sowing  till 
the  heads  are  ready  to  cut.  Carter’s  Universal  is  also  a 
very  satisfactory  June  Broccoli.  This  variety  stands  frost 
better  than  any  other  sort  I  have  tried.  Seven  years  ago  it 
was  the  only  sort  that  stood  the  winter  unscathed.  One  of 
our  most  troublesome  vegetables  is  Spinach,  which  is  singu¬ 
larly  erratic  as  a  winter  crop.  The  safest  plan,  I  find,  is  to 
sow  early  in  August,  and  again  a  little  later  in  the  month. 
It  IS  surprising  what  a  number  of  really  good  varieties  of 
Spi^ch  are  grown  on  the  Continent ;  some  of  these  possess  j 
qualities  that  would  pay  for  their  introduction  to  our  gardens.  1 
Meanwhile  Viroflay  may  safely  be  groaui  for  all  seasons, 
only  care  must  be  taken  to  allow  each  plant  a  sufficient 
space  to  develop  its  large  leaves.  Carter’s  is  also  a  capital 
sort,  also  requiring  much  space  for  the  ample  foliage.  ..The 
“  Laitue  ”  and  the  “  Lent-a-monter,”  which  I  have  grown, 
are  two  very  good  Contineritaj  varieties.  In  Carrots  the 
Continental  strains,  which  have,  however,  been  introduced 
are  far  superior  to.  old  kinds.  I  am,  in  particular,  grateful 
for  the  stump-rooted  forms,  which  do  well  in  our-poor  light 
soil,  where  the  long-rooted  quite  fail.  All  reliable  seedsmen 
supply  first-rate  stocks  of  the  Best  Carrots,  and  I  think  it 
may  safely  be  said  that  all  the  newer  sorts  are  decided  im¬ 
provements  on  old  ones. 
Of  Turnips  I  do  not  know  a  sort  to  be  more  recommended 
than  a  good  strain  of  “  Snowball  ”  for  using  during  suinmer^ 
autumn,  and  winter,  and  for  an  early  crop  “  Early  Milan. 
The  long-rooted,  or  French  “Narews,”  are  delicious,  but  I 
have  not  found  them  to  succeed  so  well  as  the  round  sorts. 
Cabbages,  Sprouts,  and  Cauliflowers  may  safely  be  left  out 
in  this  short  review,  but  North  country  gardeners  should 
accept  a  hint  from  those  in  the  South,  and  grow  a  good 
breadth  of  London  Coleworts.  I  have  had  them,  just 
delicious,  all  the  winter  through,  and  grow  also  White 
Sprouting  Broccoli,  and  Purple  Sprouting,  too,  but  not  the- 
early  strain,  Avhich  is  less  useful. — B. 
A  Note  on  Feeding  Vines. 
The  click  of  the  Grape  scissors  ha.s  been  heard  hour  after  hour- 
in  many  gardens  of  late,  and  there  .still  remains  much  thinning  to 
be  done  where  Grapes  are  largely  grown.  No  matter  whether 
the  Grapes  are  grown  for  exhibition,  home  use,  or  market  pur¬ 
poses,  the  production  of  berries  which  are  large  for  the  variety 
is  one  of  the  chief  aims  of  the  cultivator.  Early  and  thorough 
thinning  ivill  do  mncli  to  bring  about  the  desired  result,  but  this 
must  be  followed  up  by  judicious  feeding  and  watering.  So  soon 
as  the  thinning  has  been  completed  in  any  vinery  the  borders 
should  be  examined,  and  if  the  soil  is  in  the  right  condition  a 
thorough  watering  given.  I  always  consider  it  an  advantage  to 
have  the  soil  in  such  a  condition  as  to  require  water  at  that  stage,, 
because  if  it  is  freely  given  then,  and  there  are  plenty  of  active 
roots  to  take  it  up,  the  young  berries  seem  to  swell  with  a 
bound,  and  form  a  framework  capable  of  the  fullest  development. 
I  do  not,  however,  believe  in  watering  all  Vine  borders  imme¬ 
diately  after  thinning,  irrespective  of  the  condition  of  the  soil 
and  roots,  as  I  have  often  seen  very  unfavourable  results  front 
the  adoption  of  that  practice.  Judgment  is  needed  in  the 
matter.  In  all  instances,  however,  in  Avhich  it  is  applied 
at  that  stage  I  am  a  firm  believer  in  giving  also  stimu¬ 
lating  food.  Many  growers  adopt  the  plan  of  placing, 
on  the  border  a  thick  dressing  of  dung,  that  composed 
largely  of  cow  manure  being  generally  preferred.  It  is,  how¬ 
ever,  quite  easy  to  overdo  that  sort  of  thing,  with  the  result  that 
the  surface  of  the  border  gets  so  wet  and  sour  that  the  young  roots, 
instead  of  coming  to  the  surface  go  deeper. 
Fresh,  crude  manure  Avhich  is  wet  and  sticky  I  do  not  like,  but 
a  mixture  I  have  found  invaluable  is  the  following:  Shake  out 
the  .straw  from  the  manure  obtained  from  .stables,  throw  the 
droppings  into  a  heap,  and  turn  it  a  few  times ;  then  add  to  the 
heap  half  as  much  cow  manure  which  has  been  kept  for  two  or 
three  months.  If  thoroughly  mixed  this  forms  a  splendid  dressing^ 
for  a  Vine  border,  if  a  thickness,  of  3in  only  is  applied.  Thick 
dressing.s  exclude  air,  and  always  have  a  tendency  to  make  the 
surface  of  a  border  sour.  After  the  border  has  been  dressed 
the  surface  of  the  manure  should  be  allowed  to  dry  before  water 
is  given,  and  a  thorough  soaking  with  clear  water  will  then,  for 
the  time  being,  supply  ample  nourishment  for  the  Vines.  Later  on 
a  dre.ssing  or  two  of  artificial  manure  will  be  of  advantage.  When 
no  summer  dressing  of  natural  manure  is  given,  artificial  or  liquid 
manure,  or  both,  should  certainly  be  applied  at  the  first  watering 
after  the  thinning  has  been  done.  There  are  many  excellent  Vine 
manures  on  the  market  which  may  be  depended  upon  to  give 
satisfaction.  In  addition  to  the  food  they  supply,  the  majority 
of  them  have  the  power  of  promoting  surface  root-action  in  a 
wonderful  degree;  and  although  I  will  not  as.sert  that  the  best 
of  Grapes  cannot  be  grown  without  chemical  manures,  I  certainly 
do  contend  that  it  is  much  ea.sier  to  grow  Grapes  of  the  highest 
quality  by  their  aid  than  ivithout  them.  We  certainly  see  fewer 
badly  coloured  Grapes  at  shows  now  than  twenty  years  ago,  and 
the  use  of  chemical  manures  has,  I  think,  done  much  to  bring 
about  this  desirable  result. — H.  B. 
